Monday, April 3, 2017

NATIONAL CAPITAL ORCHESTRA CONCERT

In their first concert for 2017, the orchestra performed
three very different works – ‘The Wood Nymph’ by Jean Sibelius, the ‘Horn
Concerto’ by Reinhold Glière and Antonín Dvořák’s Symphony No. 5.

The tone poem, ‘The Wood Nymph’ by Sibelius, was first
performed in 1895 but, after disappearing for many years, it was finally
published in 2006.The NCO performance
of this work was an Australian premiere.It was good to have the opportunity to hear this unfamiliar work and the
classic and appealing music of Sibelius was powerfully performed by the
orchestra with clarity and charm.

Rob Gladstones joined the orchestra as horn soloist for the
second work, Glière’s Horn Concerto in B flat major, Op. 91.Gladstones studied horn at the Canberra
School of Music and now holds the position of Principal Third Horn with the
West Australian Symphony Orchestra.Glière’s
Horn Concerto premiered in 1951 and has become one of the most popular in the
horn repertoire.Gladstones gave a strong
solo performance and the orchestra accompanied him with very fine playing
throughout.

Rob Gladstones (Horn Soloist)

The final work, the Symphony No. 5 in F major, Op. 76 by Dvořák
was composed in 1875.It’s a melodic
work with great appeal and the orchestra performed it very well, especially the
quieter passages of the second movement and the lively, dramatic finale.

Queanbeyan’s Q Theatre works very well as a concert
venue.As an audience member you are quite
close to the orchestra and the sound is crisp and clear.

The orchestra impressed with the quality of
their playing and their confidence.Conductor, Leonard Weiss, has done excellent work with this very
enjoyable concert.

Photos by Peter Hislop

Len Power's reviews are also broadcast in Artsound FM 92.7's 'Artcetera' program (9am Saturdays) and Dress Circle (3.30pm Mondays) and in other selected Artsound programs.

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About Me

The 26 year-old Canberra Critics’ Circle is the only such group of critics in Australia that runs across all the major art forms, not just performing arts.
The circle changes each year depending on who is writing or broadcasting on the arts in Canberra.
Our aim is to provide a focal point for Canberra reviewers in print and electronic media through discussions and forums. As well, we make awards to ACT region artists (defined as within 100km radius of Canberra) in the latter part of each year.
The CCC has always resisted making awards in “best-of” categories. Arts practice is not a competitive race and Canberra is a small pool where it would be ridiculous to pre-impose categories, apart from major art form genres. The idea is that we, the critics, single out qualities we have noticed -- things which have struck us as important. These could be expressed as abstracts, like impact, originality, creativity, craftsmanship and excellence.
Our year is from September 30 2016 to September 30 2017.
Convener of the Circle is Helen Musa.